So now that we’re here, can we talk about how weird is it that we signed Leon both to replace Beckie’s minutes and ostensibly to help her get fit for the WC and then played her a grand total of 81 NWSL minutes over 5 games?
I'm not happy that Beckie got hurt, but i wonder, if she'd been healthy and locked in to the RW spot, with Sinclair (literally) cemented in the midfield, how much would we all have missed out on Hina's brilliance if she was stuck on the bench?
She wouldn’t have been. There’s literally no (and I mean ZERO) evidence that Beckie would have gotten any of Hina’s time. Speculation to the contrary is nothing more Canadian conspiracy tinhatting. Even RW kept Beckie glued to the bench.
(Sorry if I sound overly frustrated- I’m just so, so tired of the narrative that coaches make lineup choices based on nationality when there’s no evidence to support it whatsoever)
With how Sinclair was played vs her actual abilities over the last several seasons, I don't think it was a conspiracy theory to wonder if Beckie would become the starter on the wing this season after losing Yaz (who was the starter the latter half of the season.) Beckie was the only RW on our roster at the time, so it wasn't totally unreasonable to think she would start there....which would put Hina on the bench by default because Coffey/Dunn/Sinc were immoveable from midfield. We also had no idea what Norris brought as a coach and I could have seen him sticking her there because he had history with her and her play. At the end of last season, I wouldn't have guessed Hina played on the RW. I was one of those who questioned what would happen with Hina, but I think it's unfair to be considered a conspiracy theorist to have done so...there was lots of pondering going on because there were a ton of big things happening in the offseason, but that's what these message boards are for, no?
I fully believe Christine Sinclair is a situation unto herself. It’s not just that she’s Canadian: It’s that she’s been the face of soccer in Portland for over 20 years. It’s that she’s the world’s all time leading goal scorer. It’s that she commands incredible respect and admiration from the entire locker room, almost certainly including the players (yes, even Moultrie) that she unfortunately keeps out of the team.
Fundamentally, I don’t believe coaches earmark positions for certain players or go against their own self-interests to play objectively worse players UNLESS there are extenuating circumstances like the Sinc situation....and even then, I'd argue the gap between Sinc and Moultrie is smaller than that between Hina and Beckie.
Anyhow- Perhaps conspiracy theorist is too harsh, but I do find the favoritism narrative tiring. Hina is simply a much, much better soccer player than Janine Beckie, and neither Norris or KK have any obligation or incentive to play random Canadians more than they deserve.
SInc is a different story, of course. But we lost our starting RW, and it wasn't crazy to think Beckie would assume the starting role. Hina didn't play RW, and had no history of playing RW, so it wasn't just a given she'd be moved there. If anything, I thought Dunn would play RW, and with Coffey and Sinc in pen in midfield, that left one midfield position for HIna, Rocky, or Moultrie....I thought inevitably Hina's minute count would go down. So it wasn't just the starting consideration for Beckie, only because she was Canadian, it was literally multiple competing factors to consider that may have seen Hina on the outside...and that's what I was doing, simply considering them. If anything, it was the acquisition of Beckie in the first place that seemed more because of Canadian persuasion than her playing or starting....but, that happens everywhere in soccer. Hers was just a strange acquisition imo, because we simply didn't need her and we paid a lot to get her. And, she started initially when she first arrived....
Anyways, yeah thought considering the many factors was more pragmatic than tin-hat like. Although, there were others here who maybe thought there was a lot more Canadian bias...
Oh I agree that there was lineup/minutes distribution uncertainty for many reasons, including Beckie's presence, the midfield logjam, and uncertainty over Norris' preferred formation. I'm more referring to the idea that Beckie would *inevitably* get those minutes because she was Canadian. Hina also played on the wing a fair amount under RW, did she not?
For the record, I think KK's GMing has been mostly subpar....I just think that's more down to a combination of her lack of experience, lack of scouting nous, and the ownership uncertainty than her intentionally trying to turn the Thorns into Team Canada. She's essentially recruiting what she knows lol
Does make one wonder how much coach and KK really communicate. And of course, phantom ownership.
Like Leon, personally, and love how she barrels onto the field when subbing in--instant energy whether for country or club. I too am baffled we never saw more of her.
Tbf I’d have been more concerned if she had come in and taken Hina’s minutes like the Canadian conspiracy theorists were worried about, but yeah....you’d think she would’ve gotten the Vasconcelos minutes, though I do think Michelle has earned her sub role.
Wonder what Leon thinks! She’s going into a WC almost completely cold!
I wonder if she just didn't show in practice. I don't mind that Coach Norris played other ahead of Leon, as she wasn't a player he could count on going forward. For her part, she was able to continue to practice with a full team before the WWC, and while she didn't play the regular work she got in had to help keep her ready. Perhaps she comes back after the WWC, but she would end up in the same situation she was in before her loan was up.
same. also concerned the team is going to suffer long-term. Mark Parsons tactically coached some boring soccer on game days, but he (and G.Wilkinson?) scouted and built PTFC a really great core roster that the team is coasting on now.
Same. Yeah, the team we have now has been many years in the making...and likely we won't feel the effects of a new GM for many years after she actually takes the position. I'm trying to hold my opinion based on WHO KK actually gets for this window, but, the fact that it wasn't over the line already seems problematic given our 3 game week and only having 16 field players, multiple of those have hardly seen minutes (or haven't at all- Beckman) all season. If she brings in a better player or two, I'll feel a bit more charitable. ::)
She hasn't been aggressive at all, though, in the int'l market. Beckie and Leon were kinda just gimmes and didn't really seem like long-term roster building. Otherwise, no acquisitions besides the draft. I guess Vasconcelos maybe? She was an NTRP last year who has seemed to stick around. Literally no rumors in many years about Portland being interested in overseas players and I fear we will start to fall behind while other teams keep upgrading. We do have a good young core, but it's very possible Soph leaves sooner than later...only acquiring one drafted rookie for our backline in many years is a little questionable. Our depth also kinda drops off a cliff in many positions.
Paulson is just gonna watch this club very slowly bleed out if he just hangs onto the team and doesn't get a sale across the line....huge offseason coming up and it could be a mess if the sale hasn't happened by then.
First, I don't know, but I thought there was a group lining up to purchase the Thorns. What happened with that? Did Paulson pull back, or was the cost too high? Seems weird in July that something was possibly going to happen in the spring, and...
Paulson's new legacy seems to be letting both the Timbers and the Thorns slowly fade away, I guess.
The last update had to do with access to Providence Park. The new potential ownership group wanted their own lease from the city and not to rent from the Timbers. That was pre season and there hasn't been an update since.
Of the Thorns, Reign, and Red Stars that are actively on the market, I had read a while back on the bird app that the sales would likely close in the order of Reign, Chicago, and Portland.
Yep. Coasting on the product of a bygone era (which is fine for now). We probably have another year or two left with most of this group which is crucial because of the ownership situation, but change is certainly needed....especially if Soph jets off to Europe.
Having said that, we’ve drafted excellently. Even if Soph and Dunn leave and Becky retires, we have a pretty nice core of Weaver, Coffey, Reyes, Moultrie, and Hina.
If the FO can't get any NTRP's over the line until after our Sat game (which I think is ridic considering our 3 game week, but...), I can see this game being pretty rough. Norris will really have to scrape the bottom of the barrel and use the deep bench so that our regular league game starters are as fresh as they can be for Saturday. Saturday, we play KC, who only lost Debinha...their starting XI will be largely unchanged, and they don't have a midweek game.
I'm guessing our midfield will be Porter/Coffey/Moultrie for full 90's both games(?- ouch!) because we have no other midfielders....but I imagine we're gonna see a rotated backline, so some can rest for Sat. I wouldn't be surprised if we saw Kling in midfield....I think we've seen it during int'l breaks in the past. Reyna Reyes' mom is in Portland (I've seen it on twitter), so I imagine she will be starting tonight, maybe in midfield or at RB to give Kuikka a rest. I imagine we see both Nally and Provenzano for big minutes tonight, as well as our deep bench forwards. I think it could be good to try a 4231, with Porter and Coffey in def midfield, and then Moultrie as the 10. Vasconcelos will probably start at RW. Prob D'Aquila as the 9, but splitting time with Betfort because she'll be needed again very soon? Not sure anyone else can play LW aside from Weaver, but that's brutal for her to play 2 90's so close together...We really just have a lack of bodies so players are gonna have to grind and hope to not get hurt tonight and Sat.
It's interesting you have Beckman in as a RB, when imo she's very much only a RW/forward. Rhian tried a wingback in her 352 system and it didn't work well, particularly the defensive duties required. She tried her, I think only once, at fullback and then never again. It didn't work well- she has no defensive skills and it showed unfortunately. In fact, Beckman hasn't even been on the subs list for any games this season. I can't even remember if we saw her in preseason. Not sure what her status is...??
Looking at OLR, I just think they have better overall depth than we do. They also have an extra 5 NTRP's, which brings their field player count to 21 (our is 16.) 3 of those have been practicing with the team all season. I think their defensive depth is better. Their forward depth is quite a bit better. If Fishlock is still OUT, I give our midfield the edge. A combined Balcer, Bennett, King, and Latsko is a much better F line, to me, than Weaver, D'Aquila, Vasconcelos, and Betfort. Our attack has been what has kept us getting points because our defense has been rough, and most of our attack just left the building, so...Big big night for Weaver in particular, to get the goals we need.
Unfortunately think we come away with an L tonight. I think the lineup will be wacky because we're lacking bodies. What's everyone else think?
I can't argue with this. Our midfield is going to have to play really well, and the forwards are going to have to show something they haven't (with the exception of Weaver) all season long. Our defensive line should be unchanged (with the possible exception of Beckman), or at least with the regular rotation we have seen most of this season. The Reign are going to be difficult to beat tonight.
I agree that we’re probably going to have a rough night tonight. I’d prefer that Coffey, Kling, and Weaver not play more than a half so they have something left in the tank for Saturday night. Not happy about the NTRP situation that could help us with our depth issue.
Yeahh at this point we really just need minutes fillers in the midfield and on the wing. Irritating that they haven’t gotten them in yet, even if they’re rostered by Saturday. Tonight was when we really needed them.
I do think the Thorns still have the best overall starting 11 going into the break. Yeah, we’ll be leaning heavily on Weaver, Coffey, and Moultrie, but that would have been the case regardless of NTRPs. I also think all three are capable of playing two matches in a week, especially since there’s a 12 day break after the game on the 9th. Certainly not ideal, however.
I wonder if we see Haley Miller, who was the Moultrie lookalike that was an academy player who has shown up as an NTRP multiple times in the past. She entered the draft but wasn't picked up, and is from Portland. She's a midfielder.
Also wonder if they have Lauren DeBeau back in (one of our draft picks) who we waived (I think?) and who also can play attacking midfield and on the wing.
On Friday: Weaver played 80 mins, Moultrie played 25 mins, and Coffey played 90 mins. Of course, wouldn't mind if Coffey and Weaver got a break tonight, but we don't have bodies to even really do that, and also, I can't see us scoring unless they're on the field. But, we're gonna need them all to play full games on Saturday as well. Still think Reign have the leg up on defense and on the forward line.
I wonder if anyone has been training with them even if they haven't officially been announced (is that something that can happen)?
Also yes, what ever happened to Debeau? I liked her in college and thought it was weird she just......wasn't signed. Do we still have her rights? Maybe Reyes or Kling get some of Coffey's midfield minutes tonight?
I also like your 4-3-2-1 idea- Makes sense to add some extra stability and giving Moultrie the ability to play the 10.
Checked Haley Miller's IG to see if there were any tip-offs for her being here as an NTRP....which led me to Tampa Bay United's (a USL-W team) instagram page. I see that she's now playing there, with none other than Tampa Bay's own...Syndey Nasello. LOL.
Re: DeBeau....I have no idea. I assume we retain her rights for a year, but there was no information given about why she wasn't signed. I guess that happens, but still, she seemed more promising than, say, Beckman, who might just be cleaning balls now at this point?
Good for Nasellito. I mean, she's never gonna get another sniff of a major league, but she can be a hometown hero. Let's hope that she lives a more authentic life there this time, and that her social media sticks to goofing around with her girlfriend instead of liking birther conspiracy theories.
I've wondered this ever since OLR announced long ago that there were multiple players they didn't sign, but would remain practicing with their team. I think this was mentioned by them in preseason. So, yes it's allowed apparently. OLR have 3 NTRP's who've played preseason games with them and have been practicing with the team all season.
I've seen a lot of pictures of training, and have never seen an unknown face, but maybe photographers are asked to avoid putting them in pictures? I didn't go to open training, but others here have and didn't mention any other faces so I'm not sure if we have any. It'd also seem the NTRP signings would've been over the line already if they had been with the team all season? You'd hope, at least...I've seen at least half of teams announce NTRP's, and in each news release it mentions that multiple of the players have been with the teams all season. I'm hoping we hear the same from the Thorns, but honestly, I'm still unsure about the competency of this FO.
I really have no idea how to judge what the starting XI's will be for either team considering we both have games this weekend. If I were coach, I'd write out the starting XI and subs for the Saturday game vs. KC and then work backwards from there to write the lineup for tonight. All the deep depth tonight interspersed with Sat starters who'll switch off for each half...except midfield. Go junior Thornies!
Lets hope this lineup is close to what we will see tonight. Good rotation, with Kuikka and Weaver getting a bit of a break before the league games. While I hope the Thorns win and are in a position to advance in the CC, I just don't see it as important to this season. It will be interesting to see who steps up while the international players are away, because now depth takes center stage.
I want the CC to go well for the prize money to the players. They deserve it. However, there's another game on Saturday. Glad the players had an extra day of rest. The game on Saturday against KCC will be massive.
They make more for the Shield. More still for the Championship. Of course, all three would be lovely, but no Thorn should consider herself out of the running for a fat bonus if we bomb out of CC. If I'm Louisville or ACFC or KCC, then CC is the only realistic shot at a payday and I go all in.
Is Bixby the projected starter because it's a return to her starting? Or is she the projected starter because more of the backups are expected to see time tonight?
I'm unsure, but if she starts tonight I would guess she's become the #2, at least for now.
But, I could also see her getting a start tonight as an attempt to re-integrate her into the squad in a CC game so she can start again Sat....so basically, all options possible here lol.
So now that we’re here, can we talk about how weird is it that we signed Leon both to replace Beckie’s minutes and ostensibly to help her get fit for the WC and then played her a grand total of 81 NWSL minutes over 5 games?
I'm not happy that Beckie got hurt, but i wonder, if she'd been healthy and locked in to the RW spot, with Sinclair (literally) cemented in the midfield, how much would we all have missed out on Hina's brilliance if she was stuck on the bench?
She wouldn’t have been. There’s literally no (and I mean ZERO) evidence that Beckie would have gotten any of Hina’s time. Speculation to the contrary is nothing more Canadian conspiracy tinhatting. Even RW kept Beckie glued to the bench.
(Sorry if I sound overly frustrated- I’m just so, so tired of the narrative that coaches make lineup choices based on nationality when there’s no evidence to support it whatsoever)
And there's evidence of this! Leon played 81 minutes league minutes and 112 minutes Challenge Cup minutes.
With how Sinclair was played vs her actual abilities over the last several seasons, I don't think it was a conspiracy theory to wonder if Beckie would become the starter on the wing this season after losing Yaz (who was the starter the latter half of the season.) Beckie was the only RW on our roster at the time, so it wasn't totally unreasonable to think she would start there....which would put Hina on the bench by default because Coffey/Dunn/Sinc were immoveable from midfield. We also had no idea what Norris brought as a coach and I could have seen him sticking her there because he had history with her and her play. At the end of last season, I wouldn't have guessed Hina played on the RW. I was one of those who questioned what would happen with Hina, but I think it's unfair to be considered a conspiracy theorist to have done so...there was lots of pondering going on because there were a ton of big things happening in the offseason, but that's what these message boards are for, no?
I fully believe Christine Sinclair is a situation unto herself. It’s not just that she’s Canadian: It’s that she’s been the face of soccer in Portland for over 20 years. It’s that she’s the world’s all time leading goal scorer. It’s that she commands incredible respect and admiration from the entire locker room, almost certainly including the players (yes, even Moultrie) that she unfortunately keeps out of the team.
Fundamentally, I don’t believe coaches earmark positions for certain players or go against their own self-interests to play objectively worse players UNLESS there are extenuating circumstances like the Sinc situation....and even then, I'd argue the gap between Sinc and Moultrie is smaller than that between Hina and Beckie.
Anyhow- Perhaps conspiracy theorist is too harsh, but I do find the favoritism narrative tiring. Hina is simply a much, much better soccer player than Janine Beckie, and neither Norris or KK have any obligation or incentive to play random Canadians more than they deserve.
SInc is a different story, of course. But we lost our starting RW, and it wasn't crazy to think Beckie would assume the starting role. Hina didn't play RW, and had no history of playing RW, so it wasn't just a given she'd be moved there. If anything, I thought Dunn would play RW, and with Coffey and Sinc in pen in midfield, that left one midfield position for HIna, Rocky, or Moultrie....I thought inevitably Hina's minute count would go down. So it wasn't just the starting consideration for Beckie, only because she was Canadian, it was literally multiple competing factors to consider that may have seen Hina on the outside...and that's what I was doing, simply considering them. If anything, it was the acquisition of Beckie in the first place that seemed more because of Canadian persuasion than her playing or starting....but, that happens everywhere in soccer. Hers was just a strange acquisition imo, because we simply didn't need her and we paid a lot to get her. And, she started initially when she first arrived....
Anyways, yeah thought considering the many factors was more pragmatic than tin-hat like. Although, there were others here who maybe thought there was a lot more Canadian bias...
Oh I agree that there was lineup/minutes distribution uncertainty for many reasons, including Beckie's presence, the midfield logjam, and uncertainty over Norris' preferred formation. I'm more referring to the idea that Beckie would *inevitably* get those minutes because she was Canadian. Hina also played on the wing a fair amount under RW, did she not?
For the record, I think KK's GMing has been mostly subpar....I just think that's more down to a combination of her lack of experience, lack of scouting nous, and the ownership uncertainty than her intentionally trying to turn the Thorns into Team Canada. She's essentially recruiting what she knows lol
Does make one wonder how much coach and KK really communicate. And of course, phantom ownership.
Like Leon, personally, and love how she barrels onto the field when subbing in--instant energy whether for country or club. I too am baffled we never saw more of her.
Tbf I’d have been more concerned if she had come in and taken Hina’s minutes like the Canadian conspiracy theorists were worried about, but yeah....you’d think she would’ve gotten the Vasconcelos minutes, though I do think Michelle has earned her sub role.
Wonder what Leon thinks! She’s going into a WC almost completely cold!
Well, the bright spot is she got as many league minutes in Portland in two months as she got at Manchester United in 7
ouch!
I wonder if she just didn't show in practice. I don't mind that Coach Norris played other ahead of Leon, as she wasn't a player he could count on going forward. For her part, she was able to continue to practice with a full team before the WWC, and while she didn't play the regular work she got in had to help keep her ready. Perhaps she comes back after the WWC, but she would end up in the same situation she was in before her loan was up.
What I saw of her in the Open Training, she looked good. I'd put her somewhere between Hina and Vasco.
I feel like the FO fell asleep on the NTRP signings. Seems like a trend. What does LeBlanc do all day?
same. also concerned the team is going to suffer long-term. Mark Parsons tactically coached some boring soccer on game days, but he (and G.Wilkinson?) scouted and built PTFC a really great core roster that the team is coasting on now.
Same. Yeah, the team we have now has been many years in the making...and likely we won't feel the effects of a new GM for many years after she actually takes the position. I'm trying to hold my opinion based on WHO KK actually gets for this window, but, the fact that it wasn't over the line already seems problematic given our 3 game week and only having 16 field players, multiple of those have hardly seen minutes (or haven't at all- Beckman) all season. If she brings in a better player or two, I'll feel a bit more charitable. ::)
She hasn't been aggressive at all, though, in the int'l market. Beckie and Leon were kinda just gimmes and didn't really seem like long-term roster building. Otherwise, no acquisitions besides the draft. I guess Vasconcelos maybe? She was an NTRP last year who has seemed to stick around. Literally no rumors in many years about Portland being interested in overseas players and I fear we will start to fall behind while other teams keep upgrading. We do have a good young core, but it's very possible Soph leaves sooner than later...only acquiring one drafted rookie for our backline in many years is a little questionable. Our depth also kinda drops off a cliff in many positions.
Paulson is just gonna watch this club very slowly bleed out if he just hangs onto the team and doesn't get a sale across the line....huge offseason coming up and it could be a mess if the sale hasn't happened by then.
First, I don't know, but I thought there was a group lining up to purchase the Thorns. What happened with that? Did Paulson pull back, or was the cost too high? Seems weird in July that something was possibly going to happen in the spring, and...
Paulson's new legacy seems to be letting both the Timbers and the Thorns slowly fade away, I guess.
Go Thornies!!!
The last update had to do with access to Providence Park. The new potential ownership group wanted their own lease from the city and not to rent from the Timbers. That was pre season and there hasn't been an update since.
Of the Thorns, Reign, and Red Stars that are actively on the market, I had read a while back on the bird app that the sales would likely close in the order of Reign, Chicago, and Portland.
Thank you. I just wonder if we will float in the netherworld with new signings until we get new ownership. Nothing is ever easy in Portland.
Yep. Coasting on the product of a bygone era (which is fine for now). We probably have another year or two left with most of this group which is crucial because of the ownership situation, but change is certainly needed....especially if Soph jets off to Europe.
Having said that, we’ve drafted excellently. Even if Soph and Dunn leave and Becky retires, we have a pretty nice core of Weaver, Coffey, Reyes, Moultrie, and Hina.
If the FO can't get any NTRP's over the line until after our Sat game (which I think is ridic considering our 3 game week, but...), I can see this game being pretty rough. Norris will really have to scrape the bottom of the barrel and use the deep bench so that our regular league game starters are as fresh as they can be for Saturday. Saturday, we play KC, who only lost Debinha...their starting XI will be largely unchanged, and they don't have a midweek game.
I'm guessing our midfield will be Porter/Coffey/Moultrie for full 90's both games(?- ouch!) because we have no other midfielders....but I imagine we're gonna see a rotated backline, so some can rest for Sat. I wouldn't be surprised if we saw Kling in midfield....I think we've seen it during int'l breaks in the past. Reyna Reyes' mom is in Portland (I've seen it on twitter), so I imagine she will be starting tonight, maybe in midfield or at RB to give Kuikka a rest. I imagine we see both Nally and Provenzano for big minutes tonight, as well as our deep bench forwards. I think it could be good to try a 4231, with Porter and Coffey in def midfield, and then Moultrie as the 10. Vasconcelos will probably start at RW. Prob D'Aquila as the 9, but splitting time with Betfort because she'll be needed again very soon? Not sure anyone else can play LW aside from Weaver, but that's brutal for her to play 2 90's so close together...We really just have a lack of bodies so players are gonna have to grind and hope to not get hurt tonight and Sat.
It's interesting you have Beckman in as a RB, when imo she's very much only a RW/forward. Rhian tried a wingback in her 352 system and it didn't work well, particularly the defensive duties required. She tried her, I think only once, at fullback and then never again. It didn't work well- she has no defensive skills and it showed unfortunately. In fact, Beckman hasn't even been on the subs list for any games this season. I can't even remember if we saw her in preseason. Not sure what her status is...??
Looking at OLR, I just think they have better overall depth than we do. They also have an extra 5 NTRP's, which brings their field player count to 21 (our is 16.) 3 of those have been practicing with the team all season. I think their defensive depth is better. Their forward depth is quite a bit better. If Fishlock is still OUT, I give our midfield the edge. A combined Balcer, Bennett, King, and Latsko is a much better F line, to me, than Weaver, D'Aquila, Vasconcelos, and Betfort. Our attack has been what has kept us getting points because our defense has been rough, and most of our attack just left the building, so...Big big night for Weaver in particular, to get the goals we need.
Unfortunately think we come away with an L tonight. I think the lineup will be wacky because we're lacking bodies. What's everyone else think?
I can't argue with this. Our midfield is going to have to play really well, and the forwards are going to have to show something they haven't (with the exception of Weaver) all season long. Our defensive line should be unchanged (with the possible exception of Beckman), or at least with the regular rotation we have seen most of this season. The Reign are going to be difficult to beat tonight.
I agree that we’re probably going to have a rough night tonight. I’d prefer that Coffey, Kling, and Weaver not play more than a half so they have something left in the tank for Saturday night. Not happy about the NTRP situation that could help us with our depth issue.
Yeahh at this point we really just need minutes fillers in the midfield and on the wing. Irritating that they haven’t gotten them in yet, even if they’re rostered by Saturday. Tonight was when we really needed them.
I do think the Thorns still have the best overall starting 11 going into the break. Yeah, we’ll be leaning heavily on Weaver, Coffey, and Moultrie, but that would have been the case regardless of NTRPs. I also think all three are capable of playing two matches in a week, especially since there’s a 12 day break after the game on the 9th. Certainly not ideal, however.
I wonder if we see Haley Miller, who was the Moultrie lookalike that was an academy player who has shown up as an NTRP multiple times in the past. She entered the draft but wasn't picked up, and is from Portland. She's a midfielder.
Also wonder if they have Lauren DeBeau back in (one of our draft picks) who we waived (I think?) and who also can play attacking midfield and on the wing.
On Friday: Weaver played 80 mins, Moultrie played 25 mins, and Coffey played 90 mins. Of course, wouldn't mind if Coffey and Weaver got a break tonight, but we don't have bodies to even really do that, and also, I can't see us scoring unless they're on the field. But, we're gonna need them all to play full games on Saturday as well. Still think Reign have the leg up on defense and on the forward line.
I wonder if anyone has been training with them even if they haven't officially been announced (is that something that can happen)?
Also yes, what ever happened to Debeau? I liked her in college and thought it was weird she just......wasn't signed. Do we still have her rights? Maybe Reyes or Kling get some of Coffey's midfield minutes tonight?
I also like your 4-3-2-1 idea- Makes sense to add some extra stability and giving Moultrie the ability to play the 10.
Also LMAO at this....
Checked Haley Miller's IG to see if there were any tip-offs for her being here as an NTRP....which led me to Tampa Bay United's (a USL-W team) instagram page. I see that she's now playing there, with none other than Tampa Bay's own...Syndey Nasello. LOL.
Re: DeBeau....I have no idea. I assume we retain her rights for a year, but there was no information given about why she wasn't signed. I guess that happens, but still, she seemed more promising than, say, Beckman, who might just be cleaning balls now at this point?
Good for Nasellito. I mean, she's never gonna get another sniff of a major league, but she can be a hometown hero. Let's hope that she lives a more authentic life there this time, and that her social media sticks to goofing around with her girlfriend instead of liking birther conspiracy theories.
I've wondered this ever since OLR announced long ago that there were multiple players they didn't sign, but would remain practicing with their team. I think this was mentioned by them in preseason. So, yes it's allowed apparently. OLR have 3 NTRP's who've played preseason games with them and have been practicing with the team all season.
I've seen a lot of pictures of training, and have never seen an unknown face, but maybe photographers are asked to avoid putting them in pictures? I didn't go to open training, but others here have and didn't mention any other faces so I'm not sure if we have any. It'd also seem the NTRP signings would've been over the line already if they had been with the team all season? You'd hope, at least...I've seen at least half of teams announce NTRP's, and in each news release it mentions that multiple of the players have been with the teams all season. I'm hoping we hear the same from the Thorns, but honestly, I'm still unsure about the competency of this FO.
I really have no idea how to judge what the starting XI's will be for either team considering we both have games this weekend. If I were coach, I'd write out the starting XI and subs for the Saturday game vs. KC and then work backwards from there to write the lineup for tonight. All the deep depth tonight interspersed with Sat starters who'll switch off for each half...except midfield. Go junior Thornies!
https://twitter.com/TreyFillmore/status/1674169562890133509?s=20
Another fun graphic representation of Soph's G+ dominance
OT (but she was just in town, so) Trinity talks dad.
https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/how-uswnts-trinity-rodman-models-her-game-after-her-nba-fathers?j=896377&sfmc_sub=148703737&l=807_HTML&u=20626462&mid=100006092&jb=4012#nl-entry
I've yet to see her pull the chair out from the Mailman, but there are a lot of other obvious affinities with the Worm.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4XI_4IwZto
Lets hope this lineup is close to what we will see tonight. Good rotation, with Kuikka and Weaver getting a bit of a break before the league games. While I hope the Thorns win and are in a position to advance in the CC, I just don't see it as important to this season. It will be interesting to see who steps up while the international players are away, because now depth takes center stage.
I want the CC to go well for the prize money to the players. They deserve it. However, there's another game on Saturday. Glad the players had an extra day of rest. The game on Saturday against KCC will be massive.
They make more for the Shield. More still for the Championship. Of course, all three would be lovely, but no Thorn should consider herself out of the running for a fat bonus if we bomb out of CC. If I'm Louisville or ACFC or KCC, then CC is the only realistic shot at a payday and I go all in.
Is Bixby the projected starter because it's a return to her starting? Or is she the projected starter because more of the backups are expected to see time tonight?
I'm unsure, but if she starts tonight I would guess she's become the #2, at least for now.
But, I could also see her getting a start tonight as an attempt to re-integrate her into the squad in a CC game so she can start again Sat....so basically, all options possible here lol.
OT: It's gettin' drafty!
BFD FC will have the 1st pick in the expansion draft and distribution order.
MagicJackMormons will have the 1st pick in the college draft and discovery.